The eighth season of Germany's Next Topmodel aired on German television network ProSieben from 28 February to 30 May 2013 under the catch phrase Closer than ever.
Due to a decrease in ratings for the show, several changes were done. For the first time the show was produced by RedSeven GmbH, who were also previously producing Austria's Next Topmodel. Fashion photographer Enrique Badulescu joined the panel along with Thomas Hayo, who became the first judge - aside from Klum - since Peyman Amin returned for a third time to the show.
As in the last preceding years, this season featured a preselection without open castings. The first episode started off with 26 semifinalists of whom however only 25 were introduced to the audience. The show however was off with a disappointing launch as it showed a ratings drop in comparison to the last cycle's premiere.
The winner was 16-year-old Lovelyn Enebechi from Hamburg. Her prizes include: A modeling contract with Günther Klum's OneEins GmbH Management. A cover and spread in the German edition of Cosmopolitan. A limited-time apartment stay in a fashion capital of her choice. A €250,000 cash prize. An Opel Adam
The international destinations for this season were set in Dubai, Los Angeles, New York City and Honolulu.
Contestants (ages stated are at start of contest) Contestant Age Height Hometown FinishPlace Clara Zaveta 19 Hamburg Episode 126 (quit) Katharina Oltzow 16 Bad Arolsen25 Merle Lambert 16 Goch24 (quit) Nancy Limonta 22 Dresden 23-21 Lisa Quack 17 Schüttorf Linda Niewerth 17 Reken Lisa-Giulia Wende 17 Hamburg Episode 220 Michelle Maas 16 Tholey19 Höpke Voss 19 Altenholz Episode 3 18-17 (quit) Bingyang Liu 18 Cologne Leandra Martin 18 Würzburg 16 Laura 'Sophie' Jais 23 FarchantEpisode 4 15 (quit) Anna Seebrecht 16 Prien am Chiemsee 14 Jessika Weidner 16 Au am Rhein Episode 5 13 Janna Wiese 19 Schortens Episode 6 12 Veronika Weddeling 22 Borken Episode 7 11 Jacqueline Thießen 16 Hamburg Episode 8 10 Leonie Marwitz 16 Prien am Chiemsee Episode 9 9 Carolin Sünderhauf 20 Munich Episode 10 8 Christine Gischler 16 Essen Episode 11 7 Marie Czuczman 16 Lüdenscheid Episode 12 6 Anna Maria Damm 16 Neuenbürg Episode 13 5 Sabrina Elsner 20 Gägelow Episode 14 4 Luise Will 18 Rostock 3 Maike van Grieken 19 Emden 2 Lovelyn Enebechi 16 Hamburg 1
Episode summaries
Summaries
Results table PlaceModelEpisodes12345678910111213141LovelynSAFESAFESAFESAFELOWSAFEHIGH HIGH SAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEWIN2MaikeSAFESAFESAFELOWSAFEHIGHHIGH SAFEHIGHSAFESAFELOWLOWLOWLOW OUT3LuiseSAFEHIGHSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEHIGHSAFESAFESAFESAFEOUT4SabrinaSAFESAFESAFESAFELOWSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFELOWOUT5SAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEOUT6MarieSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFELOWLOWOUT7ChristineSAFESAFESAFELOWLOWSAFESAFESAFELOWSAFEOUT8CarolinSAFELOWSAFEIMMSAFESAFESAFELOWLOWOUT9LeonieSAFESAFELOWSAFESAFESAFESAFELOWOUT10JacquelineSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFELOWOUT11VeronikaSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEOUT12JannaSAFESAFESAFELOWLOWOUT13JessikaSAFESAFESAFESAFEOUT14AnnaLOWLOWLOWOUT15SophieSAFESAFESAFEQUIT16LeandraSAFESAFEOUTBingyangSAFESAFEQUITHöpkeSAFESAFEQUIT19MichelleSAFEOUT20Lisa-GiuliaSAFEOUTLindaOUTLisaOUTNancyOUT24MerleQUIT25KatharinaOUT26ClaraQUIT
The contestant won best photo The contestant quit the competition The contestant was immune from elimination The contestant was in danger of elimination The contestant was eliminated The contestant won the competition
Photo shoot guide Episode 1 photo shoot: Haute couture in Wiesbaden Episode 2 photo shoots: Posing underwater; harnessed to a Crane in couture gowns; desert beauty shots Episode 3 photo shoots: Sedcard; taken by Zombie Boy to the underworld Episode 4 photo shoot: 'Flower power' beauty shotsThis shoot was not featured in the episode at all. Instead, the girls had three different runway challenges on which the judging was based on. However, when the girls were called out they received these photos that were released on the programmes website after. Episode 5 photo shoot: Model mug shots Episode 6 photo shoot: Boxing in pairs Episode 7 photo shoot: New York City sight-seeing Episode 8 photo shoot: Rodeo Drive street walkers Episode 9 photo shoot: Mystical fairies in the woods Episode 10 photo shoot: Rooftop spies Episode 11 photo shoot: Editorials in Hawaii Episode 12 photo shoot: Famous musicians Episode 13 photo shoot: Cosmopolitan covers
Controversy Episode 8 ended with a cliffhanger, but the fate of the bottom two was "accidentally" revealed on the official website of ProSieben two days before the broadcasting of episode 9. Another faux pas happened during Episode 9. The remaining girls competed for an Opel commercial but before the winner of that was revealed, the spot has already been shown on television.
In Episode 13, the 'top 3' for the live finale were going to be selected, but before the episode aired, it was revealed online and in badly edited episode promos that four girls actually made it through, and Anna Maria was eliminated. As a result, the cycle has come under heavy criticism from many viewers due to the mishaps in editing, fan favorites being eliminated, and the season's ardent focus on quarrels amongst its contestants.
During the live finale, topless FEMEN activists led by Zana Ramadani stormed the stage calling the show "Heidi's Horror Picture Show".
Post Topmodel Career Contestant Carolin Sünderhauf proved to be the most successful model from the season, booking fashion spreads for Oyster, Elle South Africa, Superpaper, Marie Claire Australia, Elle Sweden, Cosmopolitan Germany, Grazia Germany, L'Officiel Paris, Glamour UK & Teen Vogue. Lookbooks for Altuzarra, Zara & Esprit. And Runway shows for Sonia Rykiel, Malene Birger, Brock Collection, Self Portrait and Junya Watanabe. And did a spreads and was on the covers of Gloria, Coco Indie & Annabelle Magazine.
References